Proponents Of Reform Research Articles

Walter Schuetze and the Numbers Game: Advocate for Reform, Champion of Independence, Promoter of Fair Value, and Proponent of Simplification

ABSTRACT This paper examines the life of Walter Schuetze (1932–2017) and his contributions to the accounting profession. He was a public accountant, a founding member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), the Chief Accountant for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a corporate board member, and an advocate for accounting reform. In 2008, he was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame. This paper shows how Walter Schuetze has left a quiet but impactful legacy with lessons learned that still have applicability to the accounting profession today.

Democratic deficit and underdevelopment in Nigeria: a qualitative study of the 2023 Presidential Elections

Discontentment with democracy in West Africa centres on abuse of power and political corruption. In Nigeria, dissatisfaction lies not just with these but also with insecurity, economic recession and the electoral process – a system fraught with complications, controversies and contradictions. Using the political economy of elections as its theoretical framework together with mixed research methods, this paper interrogates the relationship between Nigeria’s democratic culture and the 2023 presidential elections. Here I present a politicised electoral management institution, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Its performance is shaped, not by legislative instruments and constitutional guidelines, but by a dysfunctional democratic culture that reflects the extent to which ethnicised politics, class, institutionalised loyalty and money politics determine election results and Nigeria’s version of democracy. Although fragile and prebendal, democracy continues to consolidate amidst delayed development. The paper recommends increased media advocacy for reform.

Islamic reform with or without Ulama? A comparative study between al-Kawakibi and Naini

ABSTRACT Through historical analysis and literature review, the current article compares the works of two contemporaneous leading Muslim advocates of reform: Abd al-Rahman al-Kawakibi and Ayatollah Muhammad Husain Naini. The comparison is confined to the primary political treatises of the authors, namely Tabaiʿ al-ʾIstibdad wa-Masariʿ al-ʾIstiʿbad and Tanbih al-Ummah va Tanzih al-Milla. The article delves into the multifaced factors that shaped both the style and content of the two works. Al-Kawakibi and Naini hailed from different Middle Eastern countries, belonged to distinct Islamic schools and occupied varying social strata. These differences have influenced the ways in which they conceptualized the relationship between Islam and political reform. Furthermore, despite their shared diagnosis of tyranny as a malady afflicting Islamic societies, the two authors have prescribed divergent remedies. Consequently, these two works represent the culmination of two discrete approaches to reform, rendering them not merely distinct, but in certain aspects, diametrically opposed.

How Is Access to Legal Resources and Advocacy Foundational to Health Justice?

Health justice as a movement incorporates research about how to more effectively leverage law, policy, and institutions to dismantle inequitable power distributions and accompanying patterns of marginalization that are root causes of health inequity. Legal advocacy is key to health justice because it addresses patients' health-harming legal needs in housing, public benefits, employment, education, immigration, domestic violence, and other areas of law. In medical-legal partnerships, lawyers and clinicians are uniquely positioned to jointly identify and remove legal barriers to patients' health, advocate for structural reform, and build community power.

Interest groups and EU-Turkey relations: a focused analysis on TÜSİAD and MÜSİAD

ABSTRACT This study conducts a critical discourse analysis on Turkey’s European Union (EU) accession, focusing on the narratives of TÜSİAD and MÜSİAD. Employing the Discourse-Historical Approach within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research explores how economic, political, and social factors shape these groups’ stances on EU accession. The findings reveal TÜSİAD’s advocacy for economic integration and democratic reforms, in contrast with MÜSİAD’s emphasis on economic sovereignty and pragmatic EU engagement. These perspectives reflect the interplay of interests within Turkish society and broader EU policy trends, highlighting these groups’ roles in shaping Turkey’s EU accession discourse.

Race, partisanship, and the distinctiveness of vaccine hesitancy in health care attitudes

ABSTRACT Partisanship has served a dominant role in influencing public opinion on health reform in the United States in the past decade. Republicans are significantly less supportive than Democrats of expanding the Affordable Care Act and implementing broader government insurance provisions. With the onset of the pandemic, partisan divisions have also spilled over into polarized attitudes on public health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake. The influence of partisanship should not be overstated, however, particularly when examining public opinion across racial groups. Black Americans were among the strongest proponents of health reform during the passage of the Affordable Care Act, and they remained strong supporters of Democratic-led proposals to expand health insurance access and of many public health measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. But high levels of Democratic partisanship alone cannot explain the dynamics of Black public opinion on vaccination, an issue for which Black Democrats consistently show more skepticism than white Democrats. Using multiple sources of nationally representative survey data from 2016 to 2022, this study illustrates how self-interest and racialized experiences with the government and the health care system help explain the distinctive racial divide in vaccination attitudes.

Reform or Revolution? Socialism from China to Asian Communities

“This article examines socialist ideologies in Asian American literature by comparing Karen Tei Yamashita's I-Hoteland H.T. Tsiang's And China Has Hands. Despite both novels centering on Chinese American experiences in the 20th century, they offer differing perspectives on socialism influenced by the authors' backgrounds and historical contexts. Tsiang's work, set in 1930s New York, portrays socialism as an experimental pursuit for Chinese revolutionaries amidst the clash between socialism and nationalism. Conversely, Yamashita's I-Hotel, set in 1960s and 1970s San Francisco, depicts Asian American characters influenced by Maoist socialist ideology, tempered by disillusionment with the Cultural Revolution. Through close analysis, the article examines how each author navigates characters' attitudes towards socialism. In I-Hotel, Yamashita critiques the Cultural Revolution's suppression of art and literature, exposing Maoist authoritarianism. Meanwhile, Tsiang's optimism towards socialism is reflected in characters like Fellow, expressing a longing for reform and unity within the proletariat. Both authors' personal experiences and historical contexts shape their narratives. Tsiang's immersion in New York City's political landscape during the early 20th century informs his advocacy for socialist reform. Similarly, Yamashita's upbringing in a Japanese American family during World War II informs her critique of authoritarianism and advocacy for equitable socialism. In conclusion, this comparative analysis highlights diverse interpretations of socialism in Asian American literature, emphasizing the interplay between personal experiences, historical contexts, and ideological frameworks. Through their narratives, Yamashita and Tsiang offer reflections on the potentials and pitfalls of socialist ideologies, urging readers to engage critically with questions of revolution and social justice.”

Implementing dietary counselling in family practice for diabetes control and prevention

The importance of dietary counselling in family practice for managing and preventing diabetes is the focal point of this review, highlighting its integral role in chronic disease management. With diabetes increasingly prevalent worldwide, there is a critical need for effective management strategies, with dietary interventions playing a key role. Family practitioners, often the initial point of contact for patients, have a unique opportunity to implement these dietary changes, which are pivotal in influencing diabetes outcomes and averting long-term complications. Despite facing challenges such as limited time and the need for specialized knowledge, dietary counselling in family practice stands as a proactive measure focused on prevention and early intervention. It adopts a patient-centered approach, where dietary habits and preferences are assessed, and personalized, evidence-based advice is provided. The inclusion of dietitians in primary care teams, utilization of technology for support, and advocacy for policy reforms are recommended to enhance the effectiveness of dietary counselling. Despite various obstacles, integrating dietary counselling into routine care remains a significant advantage, promoting healthier lifestyle choices and effectively managing the increasing burden of chronic diseases.

Analyzing the Right to Education for Marginalized and Vulnerable Populations: Legal Strategies for Access and Quality

The right to education, recognized and protected globally, serves as a vital catalyst for marginalized individuals—both adults and children—to escape poverty and actively engage in their communities. It empowers women, shields children from exploitation, upholds human rights, fosters democracy, and contributes to environmental preservation. Education, a fundamental human right, intertwines with other rights, shaping the full development of individuals and promoting global understanding. Despite its critical role, challenges persist in ensuring universal access to basic education, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue for a more equitable society. Despite the right to education being a cornerstone of human rights, marginalized and vulnerable groups struggle to obtain quality education. This paper dissects legal frameworks guaranteeing this right, particularly how they can be utilized to ensure access and quality for these populations. The paper explores international and national legal instruments recognizing the right to education. It then delves into the challenges faced by marginalized groups, including geographic isolation, poverty, discrimination, and disabilities. The core analysis focuses on legal strategies to overcome these barriers, such as litigation, policy reform advocacy, and leveraging human rights mechanisms. By examining successful legal tactics, this paper aims to provide a blueprint for promoting accessible and high-quality education for all. This includes fostering inclusive learning environments, culturally relevant teaching methods, and addressing the specific needs of marginalized groups. Ultimately, the goal is to contribute to a more equitable and just education system that empowers everyone to reach their full potential.

Growth of Women Education in Colonial India

This study delves into the history of women's education and social reform in colonial India, shedding light on the influential figures, movements, and societal changes that shaped the status of women during this transformative period. It explores the early advocates of women's education and reform, such as Mahadev Govind Ranade and R.G. Bhandarkar, and their contributions to the Prarthana Samaj movement. Widow remarriage, a pivotal social reform, is examined in detail, with a focus on Ranade's role in promoting it. The study also highlights the crucial roles played by women in these reform movements, including figures like Ramabai Ranade and Tarabai Shinde. Additionally, it delves into the evolution of women's education, challenges faced, and the changing attitudes toward women's rights. The study underscores the significant influence of nationalism on women's participation in the freedom struggle, with Mahatma Gandhi emerging as a champion of women's rights. It explores the emergence of feminist consciousness through women's journals and how education served as a catalyst for societal change. By examining these historical contexts, this study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the progression of women's education and empowerment in colonial India.

Innovative Green Social Work Practices for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development

This study explores innovative practices in social work methodologies aimed at environmental protection and promoting sustainable development. In the face of an escalating environmental crisis, this approach integrates the principles of ecological preservation and social equity to address complex global challenges. This paper also underscores the role of green social work in promoting environmental preservation, fostering sustainable progress, and enhancing community welfare. It examines a range of creative initiatives, including grassroots efforts, policy reform advocacy, educational outreach, and the establishment of collaborative partnerships, illustrating the significant contribution of social work to ecological sustainability. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges faced in implementing these initiatives and the importance of active community participation. In conclusion, it calls for a collective effort from social workers, policymakers, environmental advocates, and the broader community to tap into the transformative potential of green social work, guiding us towards a more sustainable and equitable future. Key words: Environment protection, Sustainability, Green Social Work, Practices.

Structure, Agency, and Structural Reform: The Case of the European Central Bank

Monetary and financial integration has been shown to increase the pressure on states to liberalize social and labor market policies. If structures do not come with instruction sheets, how do monetary regime pressures translate into policy? Through a case study of the euro area, we show that central banks play an underappreciated role in this process. Using mixed methods to analyze a large amount of data, including the complete corpus of speeches, we trace the evolution of the European Central Bank’s advocacy for structural reforms between 1999 and 2019. To explain the ECB’s activism in a policy area beyond its mandate, we theorize the ECB as navigating a dilemma between governability and legitimacy. Handed a monetary regime under which flexible labor markets were seen as a condition for governability, the ECB saw no alternative but to push governments toward structural reforms, despite the reputational risks. The ECB ended its advocacy when increasing political backlash coincided with a structural regime shift from an inflationary to a deflationary environment.

Public Health in Private

ABSTRACT Elite women seized the public health campaign during the 1900 plague outbreak to assert political influence and advocate for sanitation reform grounded in their domestic experiences. These women advocated for their inclusion in the political sphere by valuing their domestic experiences as knowledge relevant for public health initiatives. This reframing of experience positioned them as viable citizens in the imminent Federation. Applying Laura Zanotti's concept of relational ontology, this analysis frames their actions as not simply a battle against institutional authority but as careful and strategic interactions with their era's political context, exploiting aspects of it that were beneficial to them. Their ambivalent involvement in the public health campaign illustrates a complex chapter in Australian medical history. Women used the opportunity of plague to reevaluate their experience of the home as a form of knowledge relevant to public health. At the same time, they leveraged their growing status as political subjects to oppress others.

‘Building the New City of God’: The Role of Women in John Clifford's Vision for a Christian Society

ABSTRACT John Clifford was a Baptist pastor and Christian socialist in London from 1858 to 1923. A strong advocate for social reform, throughout his ministry, he supported the inclusion of women in leadership roles in the Church, and he was a strong advocate for female suffrage. This article suggests that his views on the roles of women were grounded in early life experiences, and explores the ways that throughout his ministry he promoted the view that women had an essential part of play in building the kingdom of God.

Das reformierte Fragerecht im Berliner Abgeordnetenhaus: wirklich eine Stärkung des Parlaments?

Berlin’s state parliament approved of a comprehensive reform of its question rights at the start of 2014: So-called big questions were abolished, and the oral questions were reduced to a spontaneous form . Since then, there have been only simple oral and written questions in the Berlin parliament which can be used by single parliamentarians and not by parlia- mentary party groups . Accompanying this reform, Members of Parliament got more finan- cial means to hire personal staff for their work . After the reform, oral questions were asked less often while there was a massive surge in the use of written questions . Moreover, Mem- bers of Parliament supporting the government asked more questions than before, and a focus on statistical and cost questions has become visible . All in all, there has been a trend towards frequent questioning and fast answering, at the expense of bigger question projects that serve developing concepts (in particular on the side of the opposition) . Whether or not the reform has led to a strengthening of parliament – which the reform proponents had advocated for – is open for discussion based on the findings presented here .

In Citizenship We Trust? The Citizenship Question Need Not Impede Puerto Rican Decolonization

Puerto Rico is an uncomfortable reminder of the democratic deficits within the world’s oldest constitutional democracy. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens who live in a U.S. territory that is subject to the plenary authority of Congress, to which they cannot elect voting members. In 2022, under unified Democratic control for the first time in a decade, Congress considered the Puerto Rico Status Act, legislation that would finally decolonize Puerto Rico. The Status Act offered Puerto Rican voters three alternatives to the colonial status quo—statehood, independence, or sovereignty in free association—and committed Congress to implementing whichever alternative won majority support from Puerto Rican voters. The Status Act sought to define how any change in status would affect Puerto Ricans’ access to U.S. citizenship. The Status Act proposed that all Puerto Ricans would retain their U.S. citizenship if Puerto Rico became independent or entered free association but included special restrictions that would limit Puerto Ricans’ ability to pass on their U.S. citizenship to children born after a change in status. While this Note appreciates the Status Act’s efforts to decolonize Puerto Rico, it argues that the Status Act erred in proposing this specialized regime for citizenship claims. Instead, it contends that the existing derivative citizenship framework would better regulate citizenship for Puerto Rican U.S. citizens born after a change in status. Although the Status Act died in the Senate, it represents a new and influential formula for decolonizing Puerto Rico. Future proponents of status reform should draw on the existing derivative citizenship law because it offers clearer provisions that can better ensure a large number of Puerto Ricans may rely on U.S. citizenship—a benefit Puerto Ricans themselves clearly value—even after a change in status.

Vaccination equity and the role of community pharmacy in the United States: A qualitative study

ObjectivesTo identify strategies community pharmacists utilized to support equitable vaccination in their communities. Study DesignQualitative, descriptive design. MethodsKey informant interviews were conducted virtually via teleconference using a mix of purposeful and snowball sampling of Pennsylvania community pharmacy personnel who participated in COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Interviews were conducted from March until August 2022 when thematic saturation was reached. A qualitative, inductive thematic data analysis was utilized to identify major themes and strategies that emerged from the data. ResultsPharmacists utilized three philosophies: (1) prioritizing trust, (2) meeting people where they are at, and (3) building capacity within their teams and communities to create “safe spaces” for people to receive vaccinations. Nine discrete strategies used in practice exemplify how respondents implemented these philosophies: (1) Build Community Partnerships; (2) Establish Trust to Build Credibility; (3) Address Transportation Issues; (4) Provide Patient Education and Address Health Literacy Barriers; (5) Address Language Barriers; (6) Create a Safe and Accessible Space for Those with Individualized Needs; (7) Provide Patient-Centered and Culturally-Sensitive Care; (8) Train Staff on Health Equity and Patient Engagement; and (9) Advocate for Community Pharmacy Policy and Payment Reform. Definitions for these philosophies and key examples that illustrate how each strategy was employed in practice are provided. ConclusionThe findings highlight unique strategies respondent community-based pharmacy teams use to contribute to equitable vaccination efforts in communities and further emphasizes the importance of their role in public health initiatives.

Principals' Transformational Leadership Style in Public Senior Secondary Schools in Oyo State: Challenges and Prospects

The learning environment is greatly impacted by the leadership styles of principals, largely because of the fast-growing population and rising demand for high-quality education. Principals who choose transformational leadership can promote significant change and establish their schools as centres of excellence for learning and personal development as the global education landscape changes. The paper examines the opportunities and difficulties related to the transformational leadership approach used by principals in public senior secondary schools in Oyo State. The current state of transformational leadership practices among principals in public senior secondary schools in Oyo State was examined alongside the challenges they face and potential solutions. A comprehensive literature research was carried out to shed light on the advantages and challenges associated with the transformational leadership style of principals in Oyo State's public senior secondary schools. Based on the paper, principals encounter challenges such as resistance to change, resource constraints, teacher professional development, parent and community expectations and administrative obstacles while the prospects are cultural shift towards collaboration, creative resource management, empowered teacher leadership, community engagement and support and advocacy for educational reform. The Position Paper provides a more comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the challenges relating to transforming leadership in different learning environments, as well as an insight which can benefit education policymakers, administrators and researchers. In conclusion, this paper calls for collective efforts from all stakeholders in the education sector to promote and support transformational leadership in public senior secondary schools in Oyo State.

Paul, the prisoner (Acts 23:34-35): An insight into 2018-2022 political prisoner’s rights in Zimbabwe

Undisputed letters of Paul and Acts of the Apostles are replete with details of the Gentile Missionary’s multiple imprisonments, so much as to qualify him a ‘jailbird’ description. Paul’s incarceration in Herod’s palace for 2 years (Ac 23:34–35), his arraignment before Governor Felix and subsequent detention for 5 days before plea (Acts 24) on charges of inciting public violence, being a ringleader of a cultic faction and causing disturbances in the Jerusalem Temple, resonate with the contentious arrests and imprisonment without bail and trial of members of opposition political parties in Zimbabwe. Consistent with New Testament passages that exhort caring for prisoners and the need to grant justice to those facing trial, this study seeks to understand how inmates in Zimbabwean prisons have been on the receiving end of relics of the ancient Roman Legal system in the country’s Human Rights history between 2018 and 2022. The article demonstrates how the New Testament can be deployed to grapple with distress calls emerging from Zimbabwe’s prison walls as part of advocacy for judicial reforms in the country’s quest for rule of Law. At the end, the article recommends ways in which Churches in Zimbabwe can tap from New Testament passages how to operate an effective prison ministry in liaison with the Prisons and Correctional Services Department of the Government of Zimbabwe. The article employs qualitative methods of Socio-Historical and Ethnographic Analyses to discuss how human rights pitfalls in Paul’s imprisonments present remedial lessons in Zimbabwe’s quest for judicial reforms.Contribution: Deployment of the Bible to redress Human Rights issues in Zimbabwe. Demonstration of how Early Christian Literature can dialogue with contemporary African Sitz im Leben for social transformation.

Where there is smoke, there is fire? Making sense of the past failure and future prospects of cannabis reform in Chile

AbstractA decade ago, cannabis reform was on the public and political agenda in Chile, but the reform process eventually broke down with no marijuana legalization. This article focuses on the different stages of agenda politics to explain the reasons for the failure of cannabis reform in Chile. Drawing on original data, including 36 interviews with key actors, the article traces the reform process. Through a combination of process tracing and counterfactual analysis, the article establishes the causal weight of explanatory factors and distinguishes between activities and their effects. The evidence shows that cannabis reform in Chile failed not only because of a lack of governmental support and agenda setting but also because reform proponents were unable and unwilling to maintain the agenda after initially setting it successfully. By contrast, insider and outsider reform opponents were effective at agenda denial and counter‐framing cannabis reform. Despite producing lots of smoke, recreational cannabis reform efforts have burned out without blazing the trail toward marijuana legalization in Chile. By unearthing the factors that led to initial success in gaining attention and to eventual failure in securing approval in the recent past, this article points out the difficulties of legalizing marijuana in Chile in the near future.